"I'm sorry Harry, but no, they did not. They were too young. Wizards begin having their portraits painted when they reach fifty years old." Gran said.
Harry heaved a sigh of disappointment and noticed that they had reached the carts again.
"I'm going to put you in the rucksack for safe keeping Gran while we head out of the vaults."
"That's ok Harry dear, I'll just visit my other portrait for a while. Why don't we set a time when we can meet up again? Say 7 p.m.?"
"That sounds great Gran."
She smiled, waved and walked out of her picture. Harry carefully put the portrait into the sack and placed it into the cart.
The seating arrangements for the ride back out were the same. The only difference was that Ginny instead of holding Harry's hand, grabbed the hand rail on the back of Tonk's seat. Harry slipped his arm around her waist and they were off again. careening around corners and the roller coaster effect of the ups and downs. When they got off the cart ride this time, Harry's hand wasn't crunched and Ginny wasn't as scared. She smiled when Harry released her form his hold. Harry smiled back.
Ron looked much better this time too. He was wearing a grin and said. "That was much better the second time around when you know what to expect." Hermione was wearing the same grin.
Harry began to suspect that there was much more going on between them.
Harry retrieved his pensive from Gyndilock's office and placed it in his sack. To his surprise, instead of getting heavier, it got three times lighter. He swung it over his back and he left the bank.
The next stop was Flourish and Blotts. Harry pulled out his list and read off the list of books that he would need this year.
Dark Forces – A Guide to Self Protection
Refining Your Powers and Uncovering Hidden Talents
Teaching Spells, Jinxes, Curses, and Counter Curses
Potions for the Potentially Gifted
Advanced Transfiguration
Herbology – A Study in Medicine
Charming Your Way Through Life
Occlumency – Blocking and Hiding Your Thoughts and Inner Most Secrets
Harry sighed guessing that his coarse load this year was going to be rough, not to mention the fact that he was teaching D.A. this year again as well as taking Occlumency. He began to look around the bookstore for the books he would need.
Hermione and Ron were following him as well. Ginny had another set of books, as she was only in year five so she was off with Mrs. Weasley getting her books.
Out of the corner of his eye, Harry spotted Draco Malfoy and his mother entering the store. He stiffened. He had been expecting an encounter with him eventually but he was hoping it would be later rather than sooner. Draco had seen him at once but didn't acknowledge him. He just turned up his nose and walked on.
"That Git!" Ron Said. "Acting like he's all that important while his father sits in Azkaaban."
"Leave it!" Harry warned.
Ron scowled but said no more.
The four finished their shopping and went to Florean Fortesques for ice-cream with Madeye, Remus, Tonks, and Mrs. Weasley. Mrs. Weasley after sitting for a few minutes and finishing her small vanilla butterbeer ice-cream announced that she forgot she needed to pick up some new robes for Ron. He was growing out of his old ones in leaps and bounds. Remus accompanied her and said they would be back in 15 minutes and the two headed off to Madam Malkins.
Madeye and his ever-watchful eye, decided that with two less guardians, sitting out in the open wasn't such a good idea. He and Tonks made them move to a corner table out of the way and cast a concealment charm over their table.
As it turned out, he was right to be careful. A few minutes later, they noticed 4 suspicious looking wizards come into the courtyard and begin looking around. They separated and began searching every table for someone. It didn't take a genius to tell them who they weree looking for. He recognized one of them as Rodulpus Lestrange, with a beard and a large brimmed hat covering his eyes.
He drew in a breath and Madeye immediately knew where to look. He placed a comforting hand on Harry's shoulder and motioned for him to remain quiet. Ron, Hermione and Ginny spotted who Harry was looking at and gave looks of surprise. The four of the death eaters left the courtyard.
Tonks whispered to Madeye, "It's not safe here. We must get them home!"
"We'll wait till Molly and Remus return and then floo them back from the Weasley's shop." Madeye said quietly.
They sat tense, their ice cream forgotten. For another five minutes they waited until they saw Remus and Mrs. Weasley come back. Tonks changed back into an old hag and left the corner they occupied. She walked past the two and whispered to them that there was danger and they would have to leave. She told them of their location and made her way around the courtyard where she ducked into a dark corner and changed back into her self. Tonks came back into the open and signaled to Madeye that the coast was clear. He herded the four of them up from the table and met Mrs. Weasley halfway.
They wasted no time getting to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Fred, who had seen them come in, also saw the looks on their faces and escorted them in the back without hesitation.
"What's wrong?" Fred asked.
"There were a couple of death eaters in the courtyard of Florean Fortesques looking for Harry. We have to go home quickly. Can we use the floo here?" Said Madeye.
"Of course! There is a private fireplace connection in the apartment. You can use that!" Said George, who had just come into the back room.
Everyone went to the twins little apartment and flooed back to 12 Grimmwauld Place. No one spoke when they got back except or Mrs. Weasley who said she was going to start supper. It was obvious that she was quite shaken with the whole affair and needed time to herself.
"Well, you kids can go put your things away while I take Hermione home." Said Tonks quietly.
Hermione hugged Ginny, Harry and Ron quickly while Tonks prepared the fireplace.
"See you in a couple of days!" Said Hermione as she stepped into the flames and said her home address.
Ginny, Ron, and Harry went up to the Drawing Room and sat down. Ten minutes went by before anyone spoke.
"I can't believe that they were there in broad daylight looking for me!" Said Harry finally.
"But how did they know?" Said Ginny.
"I'll bet it was Malfoy!" Said Ron as he punched his fist into the other hand.
"Maybe, but there might have been spies in Diagon Alley." Ginny offered.
"I'm going to take a shower before dinner." Ron said. "I just want to forget that it ever happened."
Ron got up and left the drawing room.
Ginny, who was sitting on the opposite end of the sofa from Harry, moved a little closer to him and picked up his hand.
"Harry, it's not your fault that these things happened you know. It's Voldemort and his obsession with you."
"Ginny, you don't know the half of it." Harry sighed and leaned back on the couch. He closed his eyes and with his free hand, rubbed his scar. It had been tingling all day but now, it was prickly hot and he knew why. Voldemort was angry.
"Harry, there's something you aren't telling us isn't there?" Ginny asked.
Harry opened his eyes again.
"Yes there is Gin. I haven't said anything about it because I don't know how to deal with it myself. It was something Dumbledore told me back in his office the night of the Ministry of Magic. I don't know if I should tell anyone just yet."
"It's all right Harry, you don't have to tell me, but sometimes it helps to tell someone and get it off your chest. And I'm always her to listen if you need me."
Harry looked into her piercing green eyes and said "Thanks Gin. You're a peach! I just don't know if the words will come out."
She squeezed his hand and he began the tale Dumbledore told him that night and ending with the prophecy given by Professor Treelawney.
"So you see Gin, I've got a lot on my plate being the one who is supposed to be the savior of the wizarding world."
Ginny, who had listened to his whole story thought silently for a few minutes before she spoke again choosing her words carefully.
"Harry, I'm going to say something and I hope you don't take it the wrong way."
He looked surprised and was about to say something when Ginny said.
"Sometimes you can be as stubborn as a Hippogriff! Do you really think you are alone in all this mess? I don't bloody well think so!
Where you alone when you were trying to save the philosopher's stone? No, Ron and Hermione where there to help as well as Professor Dumbledore! Where you alone when you were trying to save me in the Chamber of Secrets? No, Ron, Fawkes, The Sorting Hat as well as the Sword of Gryffindor were there! Where you alone facing Sirius when he thought he had killed your parents? No, Ron, Hermione, Professor Lupin and yes, even Professor Snape came to your aid. Where you alone trying to get through the Triwizards Tournament? No, you had Ron, Hermione, Dobby, Sirius, Madeye, and Cedric to help you get through it. And last year, did you have to go to the Ministry of Magic by yourself to save Sirius? No, you had 5 members of the D.A. club and most of the Order of the Phoenix there to help."
She paused and took a deep breath.
"Harry Potter, this is not your burden alone. It is all of ours that care for you. From Dumbledore down to Dobby, we are here for you. To help you, so protect you. Let us help for the love of Pete! At least as much help as we can give. We may not be able to help in the final battle, but we can help you get there!"
Harry looked sheepish and felt silly to be so wrapped up in himself to not realize that what she said was all true. He looked at her and smiled. Before he even realized what was happening, she leaned in to him and kissed him. It wasn't the peck on the cheek like he had given her, but a long, slow, warm, passionate kiss that seemed to last forever. He didn't know his eyes had closed but when he opened them again, Ginny had released both his hands and lips and was standing up. She smiled.
"Ron should be out of the shower by now. I'm going up to go have a bath. I'll see you later at Dinner." And with that, she left the room.
'Wow' thought Harry. 'I've never been kissed like that before.' He thought back to the times he had kissed the pretty Cho Chang. It wasn't the most heartfelt kisses then, but very wet from Cho's crying. This was definitely different.
Harry felt a little lightheaded and felt the tingling from his lips all the way down to his toes. He leaned back on the sofa and swung his feet up and closed his eyes. He wanted to savor that kiss and remember it always. Before he knew it, he drifted off to sleep. At first, he was dreaming of walking down by the lake at Hogwarts hand in hand with Ginny. A few moments later however, his dreams took on an ugly, darker turn. He could feel Voldemort's presence and he was not happy. In fact, Voldemort was the angriest Harry had ever felt.
Voldemort was seething mad, yelling the cruciatus curse at one of his death eaters at the top of his lungs. It scared Harry to feel that much raw energy and before he could stop it, Harry was yelling at the op of his lungs too.
"Harry Potter! I'll kill you sooner or later! You can run but you can't hide Potter!"
"Harry, Harry!"